Dual-compartment container

ABSTRACT

A container and container cap for storage and dispensing of moist articles and for storing at least one normally dry article. The container includes a body defining a first compartment for storage of moist articles. The cap defines a second compartment for storage of at least one normally dry article. The cap also defines an opening for dispensing moist articles from the first compartment. A lid is coupled to the cap and includes a pair of sealing flaps for selectively closing the first and second compartments. The ventilated flap for closing the second compartment includes openings for ventilating the second compartment to help dry the normally dry article.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/978,295, filed Oct. 8, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dual-zone container having a first compartment for containing a moist product and a second compartment for containing a normally dry product.

BACKGROUND

When cleaning or wiping an object with a normally wet cloth, it is possible for the surface of the object to remain moist subsequent to the cleaning action. Many times, a dry cloth is required to completely dry the object and eliminate the possibility of streaks forming on the surface. Known wipe containers maintain a single compartment for moist cloths, resulting in the user needing to also obtain and carry a separate dry cloth. Additionally, as the dry cloth is used, it retains moisture from the surface of the object and, if not properly dried between cleaning cycles, can be left damp and thereby susceptible to mold or mildew formation.

SUMMARY

A container for storage and dispensing of moist articles and for storing at least one normally dry article includes a body at least partially defining a first compartment for storage of moist articles. The container further includes a cap defining a second compartment therein for storage of at least one normally dry article. The cap also defines an opening for dispensing moist articles from the first compartment. A lid of the container has a sealing flap for selectively closing the first compartment and sealing the first compartment from the environment and a ventilated flap for selectively closing the second compartment. The ventilated flap includes at least one opening for ventilating the second compartment when the ventilated flap is closed.

The container incorporates a second vented chamber within the cap of the first chamber. The first chamber may therefore maintain wet wipes necessary for cleaning, while the second chamber provides a convenient location to store a dry cloth. Moreover, the flap that covers the second chamber includes venting holes to promote drying of the dry cloth between cleaning cycles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dual-zone container.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the dual-zone container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the dual-zone container of FIG. 1 with both portions of a two-part lid in open positions.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a cap of the dual-zone container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the two-part lid shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an alternative construction of a dual-zone container.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the dual-zone container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the dual-zone container of FIG. 6 with both portions of a two-part lid in open positions.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a cap of the dual-zone container of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the two-part lid shown in FIGS. 6-8.

Before any constructions of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other constructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a dual-zone container 20. FIG. 1 illustrates the container 20 in a closed configuration, and FIG. 3 illustrates the container 20 in an open configuration. The container 20 includes a body 24 and a cap 28 removably attached to the body 24. Both the body 24 and the cap 28 have a generally rectangular polyhedral shape such that the entire container 20 also has a generally rectangular polyhedral shape. The cap 28 is provided with a two-part lid 32 allowing selective access to an interior of the container 20. The interior of the container 20 includes a first compartment 36 (FIG. 2) formed by both the body 24 and the cap 28. The interior of the container 20 further includes a second compartment 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed solely by the cap 28. The first and second compartments 36, 40, while both formed at least partially by the cap 28, are separated from each other such that the contents of the first and second compartments 36, 40 are not mixed or touching. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first compartment 36 is substantially larger than the second compartment 40 in the illustrated construction of the container 20. In other constructions, the second compartment 40 can be larger than the first compartment 20 or the first and second compartments 20, 40 can have substantially the same size.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the cap 28 includes a first part 44 having a slit-type opening 48. In the illustrated construction, the opening 48 in the first part 44 is generally star-shaped, being formed by six equally-spaced slits intersect at a center of the opening 48. Alternatively, the opening 48 can be other shapes. The opening 48 in the first part 44 of the cap 28 is configured to retain a sheet article (not shown) in a position to be grasped by a user. Typically, sheet articles are interleaved so that the dispensing of one sheet article positions a portion of the following sheet article in the opening 48 so that it may be easily grasped as desired. The first part 44 of the cap 28 is selectively covered by a first flap 52 of the lid 32. The first flap 52 is rotatable between a closed position (FIG. 1) that closes and seals the first compartment 36 from the external environment and an open position (FIG. 3) that provides access to the first compartment 36 through the opening 48.

The cap 28 further includes a second part 56 adjacent the first part 44. The second part 56 forms the second compartment 40 of the container 20. The second compartment 40 is accessible by a second flap 60 rotatable between a closed position (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG. 3). In the illustrated construction, the second flap 60 includes at least one opening 64 for venting the second compartment 40 when the second flap 60 is in the closed position. In other words, the interior of the second compartment 40 is in fluid communication with the external environment via opening 64 to facilitate venting of the interior of the second compartment 40. In other constructions, the second flap 60 may not include an opening and the second flap 60 may engage or be connected to the cap 28 in a manner that facilitates fluid communication with the environment. In yet other constructions, the second compartment 40 may not be in fluid communication with the environment.

In between the first part 44 and the second part 56 of the cap 28, an attachment portion 68 (FIGS. 2 and 4) provides a location for coupling the lid 32 to the cap 28. The attachment portion 68 of the cap 28 includes at least one opening 72 (FIG. 2) configured to receive a corresponding post 76 (FIG. 5) extending from a central portion 80 of the lid 32 between the first and second flaps 52, 60. In the illustrated construction, five openings 72 in the attachment portion 68 receive five corresponding posts 76 of the lid 32. Alternatively, the container 20 can include other components and means for attaching the lid 32 to the cap 28.

As shown in FIG. 2, the body 24 includes a recessed edge 84 over which the cap 28 is positionable to removably connect the cap 28 to the body 24. The body 24 and the cap 28 fit together at the recessed edge 84 allowing for the cap 28 to remain attached during normal use of the container 20 and allowing for the cap 28 to be removed from the body 24 to access the first compartment 36. The first compartment 36 may be accessed periodically to replenish or replace the contents thereof. In one construction, the first compartment 36 contains a stack of interleaved “wet wipes” or moist tissues. The wet wipes may be individually dispensed through the opening 48 and used for cleaning various objects and/or body parts. The first flap 52 of the lid 32 includes a peripheral rim 88 (FIG. 5) configured to selectively engage a corresponding edge 92 (see FIG. 3) of the cap 28 to maintain the first flap 52 in the closed position and seal the first compartment 36 closed so that its contents do not dry out.

The second compartment 40 is configured to contain one or more normally dry products such as a “dry wipe” or polishing cloth. The second compartment 40, which is configured to contain one or more reusable items, may be smaller than the first compartment 36, which is configured to contain a bulk supply of one-time-use articles. The second flap 60 of the lid 32 may be provided with a snap closure mechanism similar to that of the first flap 52 (i.e., rim 88 and edge 92). However, the openings 64 in the second flap 60 expose the second compartment 40 and the contents therein to the external environment for purposes of ventilation. For example, the second compartment 40 may contain a reusable polishing or drying cloth that may become damp during use. When returned to storage in the second compartment 40, the cloth is able to dry-out due to the ventilation of the second compartment 40 provided by the openings 64.

Thus, the container 20 provides a first compartment 36 for storage and dispensing of moist articles and a second compartment 40 unitarily formed with the cap 28 for storage and ventilation of a normally dry article. In some constructions, the container 20 provides a first compartment and a second compartment as described above, except that neither compartment is unitarily formed as part of the cap 28. For example, the body 24 may include a separator wall dividing the interior space into a first compartment for storage and dispensing of moist articles and a second compartment for storage and ventilation of a normally dry article. It is also conceived that the compartment for storage and dispensing of moist articles may be unitarily formed with and as part of the cap 28, or that both of a first compartment for storage and dispensing of moist articles and a second compartment for storage and ventilation of a dry article are unitarily formed with and as part of the cap 28.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate a container 120 according to a second construction. The container 120 has similarities with the container 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 except for the particular differences pointed out below. Therefore, reference is made to the description above (relating to the container 20 of FIGS. 1-5) with respect to the features in common with the container 120. Those features of the container 120 in common with features of the container 20 are labeled with reference numerals corresponding to those of FIGS. 1-5, but with each number incremented by 100 in FIGS. 6-10.

The container 120, including the body 124 and the cap 128, is generally cylindrical as opposed to the rectangular container 20 of FIGS. 1-5. In addition to rectangular and cylindrical, other known shapes may be utilized as well. These include other polyhedral and prismatic shapes as well as non-polyhedral and non-prismatic shapes.

Although illustrated as having a press fit at the recessed edge 184 of the body 124, the cylindrical shape of the body 124 and the cap 128 allow the container 120 to optionally be opened and closed for selectively accessing the first compartment 136 by a set of male and female threads provided on the body 124 and the cap 128. Where this feature is desired, at least the mating portions of the body 124 and the cap 128 can be of cylindrical form.

It should be understood that although the illustrated construction of the container is a dual-zone and dual-compartment container, the container is capable of having more than two zones and two compartments and still be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such constructions could have any combination of wet compartments and dry compartments.

It should also be understood that a large variety of alternatives and variations exist to the constructions discussed above and illustrated in the drawings. The constructions described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to recognize such alternatives and variations from the disclosure herein and, therefore, such alternatives and variations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A container for storage and dispensing of a first article and for storing a second article, the container comprising: a body at least partially defining a first compartment for storage of the first article; a cap supported by the body and defining a second compartment for storage of the second article, the cap further defining an opening facilitating access to the first compartment for dispensing the moist article from the first compartment; and a lid supported by the cap, the lid having a first flap for selectively closing the first compartment, and a second flap for selectively closing the second compartment, the second flap having an opening for ventilating the second compartment when the second flap is closed.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the first article is a moist article, and the second article is a dry article.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the cap is coupled to the body by a press fit.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid is substantially circular, and wherein the first and second flaps are substantially semi-circular.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a central portion that substantially bisects the lid, and wherein the first and second flaps are pivotally coupled to the central portion.
 6. The container of claim 6, wherein the central portion includes a plurality of posts, and the cap includes an attachment portion that defines a plurality of openings, and wherein each of the plurality of openings receives a respective one of the plurality of posts.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the cap defines a substantially circular opening, and the first flap includes a peripheral rim that selectively engages an edge surrounding the circular opening, and wherein engagement between the rim and the edge provides a seal for retaining moisture within the first compartment.
 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the opening for ventilating the second compartment includes a plurality of holes in a grid-like pattern.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein the opening in the cap that facilitates access to the first compartment includes a plurality of intersecting slits.
 10. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises more than two compartments.
 11. The container of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a substantially continuous edge that defines an opening to the second compartment and the opening facilitating access to the first compartment, the cap also including an attachment portion for the lid that extends between the opening for the second compartment and the opening facilitating access to the first compartment.
 12. The container of claim 12, wherein the opening for the second compartment and the opening facilitating access to the first compartment are substantially semi-circular.
 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the cap defines at least one recess adjacent the substantially continuous edge that provides access to an underside of the lid for opening at least one of the first and second flaps.
 14. A combination cap and lid for forming a dual-compartment storage container from a single-compartment storage container, the combination comprising: a body for attachment to the single-compartment storage container, the body defining a secondary storage compartment that extends into the single compartment storage container when the body is attached to the single compartment storage container, and an opening having a first portion that communicates with the single compartment storage container and a second portion that communicates with the secondary storage compartment; a first flap configured to selectively overlie the first portion of the opening to open and close the single compartment storage container; a second flap configured to selectively overlie the second portion of the opening to open and close the secondary storage compartment; and a central portion extending across the opening between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first and second flaps are flexibly coupled to the central portion.
 15. The combination cap and lid of claim 14, wherein the first flap is substantially semi-circular includes a peripheral rim configured to engage an edge of the opening to seal at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the opening.
 16. The combination cap and lid of claim 14, wherein the second flap is substantially semi-circular and defines an opening for ventilating the secondary storage compartment.
 17. The combination cap and lid of claim 14, wherein the central portion bisects the lid and is flexibly coupled to the first and second flaps.
 18. The combination cap and lid of claim 14, wherein the central portion includes a plurality of posts, and the cap includes an attachment portion that defines a plurality of openings, and wherein each of the plurality of openings receives a respective one of the plurality of posts. 